Retirement and Assisted Living 

Memory Care

Partners In Care HosPet

The HosPet program at Partners In Care features nurturing registered therapy dogs and dedicated volunteers who bring pet therapy to our hospice patients at home, in local care facilities, and in our Hospice House.

These qualified hospice volunteers and their therapy pets create an opportunity for socialization and comforting interaction, often reducing anxiety, sometimes promoting physical movement, and usually opening lines of communication. Pet therapy positively impacts the lives of those who are ill, grieving or withdrawn.

To learn more about our HosPet program, contact us at (541) 382-5882 or visit our website at partnersbend.org

Elk Meadow Elementary School DOG TALES

The Very Best Listeners

Reading Partner Teams are assigned two kids with each having their own 30 minutes to be shared with you and your dog. Reading Partner Teams have the opportunity to become an important part of a 4th or 2nd grade kid's life. Volunteering for the DOG TALES program is about making a connection and a difference with your dog by your side.

Behavior Transition Program

Behavior Transition Program is a specialized education program for children K-3 at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend that do not fit in to a regular classroom setting due to behavior constraints. Two Therapy Dog teams visit the classroom weekly and read one-on-one with the students. The teams are well versed in dealing with children who sometimes display no impulse control, have trouble dealing with anger and frustration, and are prone to outbursts and melt downs. The teachers and the students look forward to the teams visits, and the teachers feel that they are a godsend. Behaviors have improved, and the opportunity for the children to be gentle and appropriate around the therapy dogs has been a huge motivator for positive change.

Lunch and Learn

Read books! Eat food! Play games! Lunch and Learn is a FREE summer reading program. Lunch is provided to all children 18 years and under. Sponsored by Bend La Pine School District's Project HELP and Title 1. Each summer qualified Therapy Dog Teams volunteer for 1 to 1.5 hours one day a week at a designated Lunch and Learn site where kids can sit on a blanket and read to a dog. The on site teacher and other volunteers say the day the dogs are there are the days they have the most children.

High Schools

Therapy animal teams are scheduled to visit Bend area high schools. The teams typically visit once per week. Depending upon the school, the teams visit study halls, classes and special events to provide stress relief, reduce anxiety and improve emotional mood.

Central Oregon Community College Pet-A-Pup Stress Relief Day

Our Compassionate Canines participate in Pet-A-Pup, one of the favorite events each quarter during Stress Relief Week for the students at COCC. One day during the week before finals the students can come by for a quick visit with our dogs, or spend the afternoon petting the dogs, relaxing, catching their breath and letting go of the tension of cramming for tests. Some students come back each quarter just to see the dogs.

OSU Cascades Cuddle-a-Canine Stress Relief Day

The OSU Office of Student Life sponsors Cuddle-a Canine Stress Relief Day to help students relax before finals week. With finals approaching students can feel the stress growing. Students come to cuddle our therapy dogs to forget their stress.

Click here to watch our canines cuddling with OSU students.